Aircraft Trajectory Replanning for Dynamic No-Fly Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous aircraft systems struggle to rapidly update flight trajectories to account for varying conditions such as wind, dynamic no-fly zones, and potential conflicts during flight.
Innovation Solution
A computing system on-board the aircraft computes and updates global flight trajectories at frequencies up to 500 millihertz, adjusting for dynamic variables by deforming the trajectory to avoid conflicts and optimize for factors like total flight time, energy consumption, and passenger comfort using an objective function.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If autonomous aircraft systems use fixed flight trajectories, then the system complexity is low, but the ability to adapt to varying conditions (wind, no-fly zones, conflicts) is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic trajectory planning by continuously updating flight paths at frequencies up to 500 millihertz based on real-time conditions. The system transitions from fixed to dynamic trajectories, allowing the aircraft to adapt to varying wind conditions, no-fly zones, and potential conflicts through ongoing computational adjustments while maintaining autonomous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring current position, weather conditions, airspace restrictions, and potential conflicts, then using this information to compute updated trajectories. The computing system receives real-time data, processes it through objective functions, and generates corrected flight paths, creating a closed-loop feedback system that adapts to changing conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system updates trajectories frequently to account for real-time conditions, then adaptability improves, but computational load and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-computing objective functions and criteria for trajectory optimization before actual flight conditions require updates. The computing system is pre-configured with optimization algorithms that can rapidly generate corrected trajectories when updates are needed, reducing real-time computation time while maintaining high adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes computational efficiency by changing key parameters such as update frequency (up to 500 millihertz), trajectory resolution, and optimization objectives based on flight conditions. The system adjusts these parameters dynamically to balance computational load with the need for real-time adaptation, reducing unnecessary computation during stable conditions while increasing it when rapid updates are required.
3Reliability
If the aircraft follows a fixed global flight trajectory, then the flight path is simple and predictable, but safety and conflict avoidance are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the global flight trajectory into multiple segments or waypoints, allowing independent computation and adjustment of each segment. This segmentation enables the aircraft to maintain overall trajectory structure while making localized corrections to avoid conflicts and adhere to no-fly zones, improving safety without requiring complete redesign of the entire flight path.
Solution Approach 2:
The computing system acts as an intermediary between the planned global trajectory and the actual flight path. It receives the original trajectory, processes real-time condition data, computes corrected trajectories through objective functions, and generates updated control instructions. This intermediary role allows complex safety computations to be performed autonomously without requiring pilot intervention or manual trajectory redesign.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for aircraft trajectory planning includes computing an updated global flight trajectory for an aircraft from a current position to a second location using an objective function. The computing system repeats computes the data corresponding to the updated global flight trajectory at a frequency no less than fifty millihertz as the aircraft flies towards the second location. The method also includes computing autonomous control instructions for the aircraft to fly along the updated global flight trajectory.